Effective Communication In Workplaces

Effective Communication In Workplaces Effective communication has its own benefits in the workplace. Effective communication from managers to employees will result in the employees doing their job well. A good management style together with a positive communication approach will be quite effective in the workplace and will lead to better understanding between the employee and manager. For an organization to be successful communication should happen both internally and externally. Internal communication: between management and employees. External communication: this takes place between staff and clients. Let us consider Vodafone as a case study to illustrate the effective communication skills[3] Internal Communication[2]: this takes place inside the organization between the employees and management. Here the employees act as stakeholders. This communication may take place in any of the forms listed below: Vertically: this the top down approach which happens from the senior employees to juniors associates. The ultimate goal here is to improve the performance of tasks and make the junior employees understand the companys priorities and requirements. Horizontally: this takes places between various teams and across departments. The goal here is to make sure roles are effectively carried out and tasks completed. Intranet with restricted access to people within the business is a great tool for promoting better communication. External communication[1] :this takes place with customers. Vodafone has laid a principle for communication as We will communicate openly and transparently with all of our stakeholders within the bounds of commercial confidentiality. Vodafone believes that this will reduce the barriers to communication. It makes sure that its messages are conveyed both verbally and non verbally. For verbal communication the company has set contact centers so that the staff can be in direct contact with the customers and further giving an opportunity for its staff to talk to the customers about the issues. Non verbal communication can take place through various methods such as advertisements in television, newspapers and other media, the Vodafone logo. This also acts as a method of determining the position of the brand. Further methods of non verbal communication include SMS to contact certain customers. Sales information can be reached out to customers through literature in the Vodafone shops. The many forms of communication through which Vodafone reaches out to its customers are as below: Promotion and sales material- Vodafone makes sure that the advertising material is correct and follows its Business principles. This also helps the information reaches out responsibly to its stakeholders together with promoting its products and services. Awareness and Information: Vodafone promoted the use of mobile phones responsibly in the cars. It took the complex material and translated the information in easy to understand form and made the public aware of the new law and appropriate use of phones in the car. Explanation and guidance: mobile phones have health effects on human beings. But the latest scientific research has something new and Vodafone needs to convey these findings clearly to the customers. Motivation to dedicate Employees A well motivated staff is a key to a productive and pleasant environment in a workplace. Motivating the employees must be one of the key responsibilities of a manager. An effective management and leadership reflect through effective motivation of employees in the workplace. Understanding the human nature is a key to effective employee motivation. The key to performance improvement in an organization is motivation. Motivation is very essential for any business to survive and excel. Motivation is a skill and must be learnt. Performance can be defined as a function of ability and motivation as below Job performance= function (ability)(motivation) Ability depends on education and training. Motivation has the following seven strategies through which it can be initiated: Fair treatment of people Positive and high expectations Discipline Satisfying the needs of the employees Setting goals at work To restructure the jobs Set rewards and recognition for performance Every organization has its own ways to motivate the employees to ensure that goals and targets are reached [4]. Obstacles to Effective Performance The main obstacles to effective performance in an organization are as follows: Culture Change Conflict Culture Culture is related to beliefs, values and customary ways of doing things. The main reason for employees leaving the company is cultural mismatch. According to the present culture employees are required to have a clear understanding of short term and long term goals. The employees are required to have a shared vision and values as well as being productive and motivated. The organizational culture is determined by the leadership style and practices in an organization and hence plays an important role especially during acquisitions and mergers. Every organization has a set of values and beliefs. When an employee is exposed to a new culture, the individual goes through a state known as culture shock. When the companies merge the employees from the non dominant company need to adapt themselves to the new culture of the dominant company. Let us consider Barclay Plc for instance. Barclay acquired Lehman Brothers and one of the major issues for Barclay after this acquisition is to take into consideration the two different cultures in these two companies. Most of the employees of Lehman Brothers have left Barclay and a few did not join Barclay. This makes it clear that the employees are not ready to adapt to the new values, leadership styles, beliefs and practices of the Barclay culture. One of the biggest challenges to the management at Barclay is to make employees accept the new culture. The change in culture ultimately has an effect on the motivation level of the employees, their commitment to the organization and their engagement in work. Another consequence of an acquisition is that the individuals from the non dominant organization will feel like loss of identity and the others will have a superior feeling. This will ultimately affect the company achieve its goals and objectives. Another major issue of culture when the two organizations were merged is it will divert the attention of the employees and make the less productive. The attention of employees will be diverted to issues such as job security , feeling of discomfort working with new employees. Job security is the main issue as there will be duplication of departments and to manage the staff, the organization can reduce the manpower. The job profiles may be redesigned which may have an impact on the performance of the employees. The employees motivation, attitude and performance are determined by the culture. Motivation and culture go hand in hand. More an employee is motivated; the culture will be healthier. The key factor to be dealt in any organization is motivation. If an employee is not motivated properly then the employee will have problem accepting the new culture which will impact the individuals ability to do the job effectively and efficiently. The company should have flexible culture if a decision of acquisition is taken. This will allow the new employees to adjust to the new culture. Culture reflects the style of management and leadership. A slight change in the values, leadership style and ideas will help the new employees adjust to the new environment. This is not easy task, but since Barclays has taken a decision of merger it should be ready to consider changes in its culture and leadership style. Change Except for change nothing is constant in this world. Every activity in an organization results in some change. It can have a positive or negative effect depending on the communication made through change. The acquisition of Barclay and Lehman Brothers bought together a huge change in both organizations. New strategies and policies, procedures and work environment were created for work in both organizations. Change should involve people and not be imposed on people. Preparing the employees of an organization for change is a very vital task and it is the responsibility of the management to do this. This can be done through various methods such as through oral communication, via training programs or through counseling. The major reason for the Lehman employees leaving Barclays when the two organizations were merged is that the change was not managed properly. The key principles needed when planning to manage change are as follows: Every person reacts to change differently. Each person is different and has its own perceptions and preferences. A few people always look forward to change and new things and it easy to handle them. But it is a very difficult to handle people who always like things the way they were. These kind of people will experience stress and dissatisfaction and negative attitude towards their counterparts preferences. Every person has his own needs and priorities A few people work just for money but a few for the self and social identification. Change can be managed effectively by designing jobs in a better way through job redesign, job rotation management etc. Managing expectations realistically The organization should make clear to its employees that it cannot make everyone happy at the same time and this should be communicated effectively and realistically. The relation between expectations and reality is very important. The management should do the tasks listed below in order to manage change effectively: The management should inspire people and set certain objectives, goals and values for the organization It should set up a communication network such as face to face interaction so that new ideas and policies can be easily communicated. If there are any obstacles in the way of communication then those should be removed as this will help people accept change. Change can be made inevitable by promotions, recruitments and rewards. Conflicts When Barclays merges with Lehman conflicts were natural to arise as people from two different cultures and two different companies were merging. Starting with small disputes, conflicts may reach to higher levels which will ultimately affect the organization. Since the culture of both organizations is different each will have its own ideas, strategies, perspectives and goals. The different types of conflict that may arise when people of two different cultures merge are as follows: Conflict with boss Since the manager has a more experience and bigger perspective it will not be good to encounter conflict with the boss. In order to avoid such a conflict it is better not to question his authority and any ideas and views should be presented in the form of suggestions. Conflict with colleagues Different point of view will lead to conflict between employees. This can be done resolved through proper communication. Conflicts with the subordinates Conflicts can be handles effectively by one of the following ways: Each person should be given freedom to express their views. Conflicts can be sorted to a greater level by identifying positive minded people. Not everyone may have a broad vision as ours. So communicating and discussing our vision will help keep conflicts away. Changing nature of Modern Work Organizations [9] There many factors that contribute to the changing nature of work at organization, but the two main factors are: Current market scenario requires organizations to be more competitive and customer focused, hence there is an increased pressure on the organization The breakthrough in IT and communication is another factor. For example mobile and internet have made work to be separated from time and space. Organizations have changed their focus and their main principles are: Defining vision and values from the consumers perspective Creating a value chain i.e., defining activities and process that add value to customers and link them Remove activities that add no value to the organization. Reducing inefficiencies in the tasks in an organization. These principles have added value to the organization enabling them to respond rapidly to customers needs and supporting change and encouraging innovation. Conclusion The base of any organization depends on the policy, the values, the vision, the philosophy and goals set by the management. These act as the driving force for the organizational culture. Culture in a workplace determines the leadership style, the type of communication and group dynamics within the organization. The employees in the organization perceive the culture as a quality essential at work which has an impact on the degree of the employees motivation. This ultimately affects the performance, personal growth and self development which ultimately affect the organization from achieving its goals. The above discussed concepts such as communication, motivation, culture etc, make up only a small part of the theories of organizational behavior and theory. The success of any organization is determined by the application of the concepts of organizational behavior in the organization. The best way to handle conflicts in a workplace is to address them through discussions and debates. Conflict can have a positive effect within the organization if it is addressed effectively. A successful manager is one who takes time to address and deal with the conflict. This in turn will lead to a healthy and diverse work environment.

Comparing Reactions to Industrialism in Frankenstein and The Communist

Reactions to Industrialism in Frankenstein and The Communist Manifesto      Ã‚   The radical changes of the nineteenth century were unlike any the world had seen before. A sense of these changes were felt by all in many aspects; not just politically, but in social and cultural means as well. When Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was published in 1831, it was clear that many general elements of the romantic era were well reflected. Similarly, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels' The Communist Manifesto appeared in 1848, a time of great national political revolutions throughout Europe. While textually these historic nineteenth century texts have little in common, it is clear however that they both are strong reactions to previous movements of European society. Underlying Shelley's Frankenstein are strong uses of romanticism, whereas The Communist Manifesto is undoubtedly opposing the consequences of the industrial revolution in Europe; both reactions of the past, yet effective in starkly different ways.    Frankenstein, like other English Romantics, placed great emphasis on the power of nature. The Arve Ravine, and the Valley of Chamounix exemplify the harmony and beautiful serenity of nature, and add to the romantic quality of the novel while sharply contrasting with the chaos of Victor's troubled mind. The Romantic movement can be seen as a protest against the rapid industrialization that was occurring in England at the time of Frankenstein's publication. While many interpretations are plausible, the novel depicts the fear that technology (and the human obsession with technology) would ultimately prove disastrous. The characters of Walton and Frankenstein are shaped by Romantic idealism, as manifested in their ... ...r a classless, productive, industrial society that was beneficial to all, the mere recognition of strength in numbers and class solidarity were fundamentally effective and paved the way not only for future governments but for future laborers.       Works Cited    Lowe-Evans, Mary.   Frankenstein: Mary Shelly's Wedding Guest. New York:   Twayne Publishers, 1993.    Marx, Karl. Communist Manifesto. Birth of the Communist Manifesto. Ed. Dirk J.   Ã‚   Struik. New York: International, 1971. 85-125.    Oates, Joyce Carol.   "Frankenstein: Creation as Catastrophe." Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.   Ed. Harold Bloom.   New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.    Shelly, Mary.   Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus.   New York: Penguin Books, 1978.    Tropp, Martin.   Mary Shelly's Monster.   Boston:   Houghton Mifflin, 1976.   

Coping with Corruption in Trading with China

CASE 2-5 Coping with Corruption in Trading with China Corruption is on the rise in China, where the country’s press frequently has detailed cases of corruption and of campaigns to crack down on it. The articles primarily have focused on domestic economic crimes among Chinese citizens, and on local of? cials who have been ? red or assessed other penalties. Indeed, China has been rated by Transparency International as number 59 of the 102 countries the German organization rates on its â€Å"Corruption Perception Index. †1 Finland is rated the least corrupt at number 1, the United States at 16, and Bangladesh the most corrupt at number 102.Corruption’s long arm now is reaching out to touch China’s foreign business community. Traders, trade consultants, and analysts have said that foreign ? rms are vulnerable to a variety of corrupt practices. Although some of these ? rms said they had no experience with corruption in the People’s Republic of China (PRC ), the majority said they increasingly were asked to make payments to improve business, engage in black-market trade of import and export licenses, bribe of? cials to push goods through customs or the Commodity Inspection Bureau, or engage in collusion to beat the system.The Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption reports that outright bribes as well as gifts or payment to establish guanxi, or â€Å"connections,† average 3 to 5 percent of operating costs in the PRC, or $3 billion to $5 billion of the $100 billion of foreign investments that have been made there. The most common corrupt practices confronting foreign companies in China are examined here. ANGLING FOR CASH MNCs also are asked sometimes to sponsor overseas education for children of trading of? cials. One person told a Chinese source that an MNC paid for that individual’s U.S. $1,500-a-month apartment, as well as a car, university education, and expenses. Firms ? nd direct requests for cash payme nts—undeniably illegal—the most dif? cult. One well-placed source said that a major trader, eager for buyers in the face of an international market glut, had fallen into regularly paying large kickbacks into the Honduran, U. S. , and Swiss accounts of of? cials at a PRC foreign trade corporation. Refusing to make payments may not only hurt sales, it can also be terrifying. A U. S. ?rm was one of several bidders for a large sale; a Chinese of? ial demanded the MNC pay a 3 percent kickback. When the company representative refused, the of? cial threatened: â€Å"You had better not say anything about this. You still have to do business in China, and stay in hotels here. † Not surprisingly, the U. S. company lost the deal. Traders of certain commodities may be tempted to purchase on the black market those import and export licenses that are dif? cult to obtain legally. A fairly disorganized underground market, for instance, exists for licenses to export China-made ga rments to the United States.Some branches of the Commodity Inspection Bureau (CIB) also have posed problems for some traders. Abuses have emerged in the CIB since it started inspecting imports in 1987. A Japanese company, for instance, informed CIB of? cials of its intention to bring heavy industrial items into China—items that had met Japanese and U. S. standards. The of? cials responded that they planned to dismantle the products on arrival for inspection purposes. The problem was resolved only after the ? rm invited the of? cials to visit Japan. Some traders get around such problems by purchasing inspection certi? ates on the black market. According to press accounts, these forms, complete with signatures and seals, can be bought for roughly U. S. $200. Some claim that, for the appropriate compensation, customs of? cials in a southern province are very willing to reduce the dutiable value of imports as much as 50 percent. Because the savings can far exceed transport costs, some imports that would logically enter China through a northern port are redirected through the southern province. PAYING TO IMPROVE BUSINESS Foreign traders make several types of payments to facilitate sales in China.The most common methods used are trips abroad. Chinese of? cials, who rarely have a chance to visit overseas, often prefer foreign travel to cash or gifts. (This was especially true when few PRC of? cials had been abroad. ) As a result, traders report that dangling foreign trips in front of their PRC clients has become a regular part of negotiating large trade deals that involve products with a technological component. â€Å"Foreign travel is always the ? rst inducement we offer,† said an executive involved in machinery trade. In most cases, traders built these costs into the product’s sale price.Some trips are â€Å"reasonable and bona ? de expenditures directly related to the promotion, demonstration, or explanation of products and services, or the e xecution of a contract with a foreign government agency. † But other trips, when of? cials on foreign junkets are offered large per diems and aren’t invited speci? cally to gain technical knowledge, may be another matter. Foreign travel isn’t always an inducement—it also can be extorted. In one case, a PRC bank branch refused to issue a letter of credit for a machinery import deal. The Chinese customer suggested that the foreign trader invite the bank of? ial on an overseas inspection tour. Once the invitation was extended, the bank issued the letter of credit. QUESTIONS 1. List all the different types of bribes, payments, or favors represented in this case and say why each is either legal or illegal. 2. For those practices that you say are illegal, classify each as lubrication, extortion, or subornation, and tell why. 3. Which of the payments, favors, or bribes are illegal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)? 4. Assuming that the FCPA did not e xist, what is the ethical response to each of the payments, favors, or bribes you have See www. transparency. org for more details about their 2002 index. 572 Cases 2 The Cultural Environment of Global Markets you think bribery will become less prevalent in markets like China? 573 identi? ed? Read the section titled â€Å"Ethically and Socially Responsible Decisions† in Chapter 3 as a guide to assist you in your decision. 5. Now that the OECD has approved an FCPA-like treaty to ban commercial bribery by ? rms in member countries, do 6. List alternatives to paying bribes in international markets and discuss the pluses and minuses of each.

The Size Of Government Example

The Size Of Government Example The Size Of Government – Coursework Example The Size of Government The Size of Government The government of any Nation is has a responsibility of solving problems involving the citizens of the same nation including reduction of poverty, ensuring safety and protection of the citizens from preventable harm, protecting civil liberties and civil rights, creating equal chances of the citizens to succeed. Just like any other institution, there is need for the government to expand in order to much the population of the subjects and be able to offer them optimum services (Cropf, 2008). The society is not made up of isolated individuals who are independently struggling for survival, but a closely woven community in which each one depends on the other. It is without doubt that there is a significant gap between the wealthy and the middle class and the poor in the American society. As such, the conservative view of allowing the government to stay away from the economy and creating a free market would increase this gap even further as it will allow the rich to prey further on the poor. In such a setting, the poor may not be exposed to as many opportunities for development as would the rich. Failure to regulate large corporations would lead to engagement in all forms of practices that would maximize profit at the expenses of the poor employees and consumers (Cropf, 2008). As such, taxation of the wealthy would create an equal opportunity for development and personal growth for the poor in the form of increased job opportunities, cheaper healthcare, and cheaper education. Contrary to the view that a large government burdens the American people, such a government ensures equal distribution of resources to different departments and promotes commitment towards meeting the numerous needs of the citizens while singling out each of the needs (Cropf, 2008).ReferenceCropf, R. A. (2008). American Public Administration: Public Service for the 21st Century (1st ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.

Free Essays on The Scopes Trial

The Scopes Trial began as a lighthearted plot by a small group of men looking to bring attention to the town of Dayton, Tennessee, but it quickly spiraled into one of the most debated, heated and famous trials of the twentieth century. It was a trial that had been in the making since Charles Darwin first proposed the theory of evolution. It was a battle between the modernists and the traditionalists. Soon began the trial that would go down in history to become known as â€Å"The Great Monkey Trial† (Pierce 1), (Linder 1) Charles Darwin had stirred great controversy with his theory of evolution that he presented in 1858. His theory about human evolving from monkeys sparked arguments between scientists and religious leader. Many people thought it to go against the Adam and Eve story in the Bible. Included with those people who did not agree with Darwin were Fundamentalists. (McGowen 19) Fundamentalism was started by American Christians who thought that the Bible had to be true. During the 1920s, Fundamentalists were a major force in American religion and soon began attacking the teachings of evolution in school. In January of 1925, John Butler, Tennessee House of Representatives member introduced a bill that made it illegal to, â€Å"teach any theory that denies the story of the divine creation of man as taught in the Bible.† (Pierce 2) The Butler Act was passes into law by Governor Austin Peay, although it was not expected to be enforced. However, in April of 1925, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offered its services of legal and financial assistance to any teacher who would test the law. (Pierce 2), (McGowen 31) Then on May 5th, 1925, George Rappalyea, manager of an iron company on Dayton, Walter White, the superintendent of schools in Rhea County, and Sue Hicks, a lawyer in the town, were sitting in the local drugstore and discussing the new law that was passed. The gentlemen continue to argue their opinions on evolution w... Free Essays on The Scopes Trial Free Essays on The Scopes Trial The Scopes Trial began as a lighthearted plot by a small group of men looking to bring attention to the town of Dayton, Tennessee, but it quickly spiraled into one of the most debated, heated and famous trials of the twentieth century. It was a trial that had been in the making since Charles Darwin first proposed the theory of evolution. It was a battle between the modernists and the traditionalists. Soon began the trial that would go down in history to become known as â€Å"The Great Monkey Trial† (Pierce 1), (Linder 1) Charles Darwin had stirred great controversy with his theory of evolution that he presented in 1858. His theory about human evolving from monkeys sparked arguments between scientists and religious leader. Many people thought it to go against the Adam and Eve story in the Bible. Included with those people who did not agree with Darwin were Fundamentalists. (McGowen 19) Fundamentalism was started by American Christians who thought that the Bible had to be true. During the 1920s, Fundamentalists were a major force in American religion and soon began attacking the teachings of evolution in school. In January of 1925, John Butler, Tennessee House of Representatives member introduced a bill that made it illegal to, â€Å"teach any theory that denies the story of the divine creation of man as taught in the Bible.† (Pierce 2) The Butler Act was passes into law by Governor Austin Peay, although it was not expected to be enforced. However, in April of 1925, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offered its services of legal and financial assistance to any teacher who would test the law. (Pierce 2), (McGowen 31) Then on May 5th, 1925, George Rappalyea, manager of an iron company on Dayton, Walter White, the superintendent of schools in Rhea County, and Sue Hicks, a lawyer in the town, were sitting in the local drugstore and discussing the new law that was passed. The gentlemen continue to argue their opinions on evolution w...

Discussion Points about Critical Gender Studies readings Essay - 1

Discussion Points about Critical Gender Studies readings - Essay Example Discussion Points about Critical Gender Studies readings Globalization in the face of this book’s discussion has brought about a whole new change of order in the society and provided more opportunities to those who have been marginalized for so long (Lowe 120). The opening of the world has transformed the role of women as it makes their voice known as well as empowers them. This may not seem such a big deal compared to other positive effects of globalization such as making the United States, not the super power nation it has always been as more countries such as China and Japan grow economically and militarily at a high rate and threaten the position of US but it is a big deal to these groups of individuals (Lowe 122). Women in the developing nations in Africa and Asia has always been tied down by oppressive cultures but with globalization, these cultures are starting to be questioned and even disbanded as an interchange of cultures from all over the world infiltrates these nations. This has therefore brought a social revolution and new meaning to feminism as the roles of women and men not only intertwine by they are even reversed in some cases all based on cultural changes brought about by globalization (Lowe 123). The biggest question that however lingers is whether these changes will continue with their positivity and expansion and to what extent? Will they lead to negative effects and impacts to societies in the long run or are they truly a blessing and will remain that way?

Comm219 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comm219 - Essay Example This is because it discusses issues dealing with leadership in indigenous societies, as well as marginalization of women in the leadership institutions. Overall, the magazine targets the entire population of British Colombia. This magazine presents distinctive articles because, for every story, there is an independent either cultural or political analysis depending on the topic. Additionally, it allows aggressive discussion by the readers with every story, which gives a platform for readers to evaluate and analyze the story based on their opinions and perceptions. For the sake of user interaction, the magazine is structured into several sections that allow easy and quick access to information that the reader may be looking for. For example, it is divided into news, culture, opinion, mediacheck, national, and solutions. So if a reader wants stories concerning solutions to societal challenges such as environment, one just clicks on solutions and select a story. Further, the magazine has created a platform for comments where readers can give their opinion on every story. Finally, the stories are accompanied with pictures for better understanding and interaction. The story I choose is titled For Kids, the Meal Is the Message. This story is remarkable because of the reaction it ignites from the audience, as well the presentation that uses humor to bring out reality and serious issue, which makes it interesting to read. Apart from the use of illustrations, the story refers to several sources and data to support the author’s argument, and this is what I would like to emulate in my writing. Another aspect is that the story addresses a specific audience while educating, informing, and giving solutions at the same